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Bilateral, incidentally found adrenal tumours - results of observation of 1790 patients registered at a single endocrinological centre
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Abstract
Introduction: During the last 22 years we registered 1790 patients with incidentally found adrenal tumours (AI, adrenal incidentalomas). In 351 of them, bilateral tumours were detected. The aim of our study was to analyze the character of bilateral tumours and summarize the methods of their management.
Material and methods: In the whole group of 1790 patients, there were 1311 women and 479 men, aged 11-87 years. The group of patients with bilateral adrenal tumours included 258 women and 93 men, 25-83 years old. Hormonal investigations and imaging examinations were performed to search for subclinical adrenal hyperfunction and to define the malignant potential of the tumours.
Results: Sixty-nine patients were treated by surgery for oncological or endocrinological purposes (mainly pre-Cushing’s syndrome). Histological findings included malignant tumours: metastases - 9, adrenal cancer - 7, and lymphomas - 5; and non-malignant tumours: adenomas - 24, nodular hyperplasia - 14, myelolipomas - 4, and pheochromocytomas - 4. Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome was relatively more frequent in nodular hyperplasia (40%) than in adenomas (30%).
Conclusions: Indications for surgery were recommended in 20% of patients with bilateral AI, most frequently for adenomas, nodular hyperplasia, and oncological pathologies, with a good prognosis in the non-malignant group.
(Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 69-73)
Abstract
Introduction: During the last 22 years we registered 1790 patients with incidentally found adrenal tumours (AI, adrenal incidentalomas). In 351 of them, bilateral tumours were detected. The aim of our study was to analyze the character of bilateral tumours and summarize the methods of their management.
Material and methods: In the whole group of 1790 patients, there were 1311 women and 479 men, aged 11-87 years. The group of patients with bilateral adrenal tumours included 258 women and 93 men, 25-83 years old. Hormonal investigations and imaging examinations were performed to search for subclinical adrenal hyperfunction and to define the malignant potential of the tumours.
Results: Sixty-nine patients were treated by surgery for oncological or endocrinological purposes (mainly pre-Cushing’s syndrome). Histological findings included malignant tumours: metastases - 9, adrenal cancer - 7, and lymphomas - 5; and non-malignant tumours: adenomas - 24, nodular hyperplasia - 14, myelolipomas - 4, and pheochromocytomas - 4. Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome was relatively more frequent in nodular hyperplasia (40%) than in adenomas (30%).
Conclusions: Indications for surgery were recommended in 20% of patients with bilateral AI, most frequently for adenomas, nodular hyperplasia, and oncological pathologies, with a good prognosis in the non-malignant group.
(Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 69-73)
Keywords
adrenal tumour; adrenal cancer; adrenal incidentaloma; subclinical Cushing’s syndrome; pheochromocytoma; cortisol; aldosterone; metanephrines; androgens
About this articleTitle
Bilateral, incidentally found adrenal tumours - results of observation of 1790 patients registered at a single endocrinological centre
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
69-73
Published online
2010-03-04
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665
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1128
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2010;61(1):69-73.
Keywords
adrenal tumour
adrenal cancer
adrenal incidentaloma
subclinical Cushing’s syndrome
pheochromocytoma
cortisol
aldosterone
metanephrines
androgens
Authors
Anna A. Kasperlik-Załuska
Jadwiga Słowińska-Srzednicka
Elżbieta Rosłonowska
Magdalena Kochman
Wojciech Jeske
Maciej Otto
Andrzej Cichocki
Rafał Z. Słapa
Wojciech Zgliczyński
